Artwork

Recently a friend of mine was telling me about his involvement in a series of psychological studies that track people’s eye movements as they look at images. The purpose of the studies is to see how variations in color, composition, pattern, etc. affect the speed of our thoughts, mood, and behavior. Can looking at an image filled with lots of small geometric red shapes for a few seconds cause us to be more alert? Perhaps…

I was reminded of this discussion when I came across these paintings by Melbourne-based contemporary artist Fred Fowler, because when I first saw them, I could sense my eyes quickly dancing over the image, jumping from shape to shape to shape. I love the creamy greens and blues, and each painting feels like its own strange universe, brimming with life. Definitely take a peek at his other work here. Also, you can read an interview with Fred over at the Design Files to hear more about his life and work.

I have been coveting the minimalist pieces in Hanna Sandin’s jewelry line Samma for some time now. Utilizing the repetition of geometric shapes cut from brass, bronze, and copper, Sandin creates some of the most unique looking jewelry out there. Given how sculptural her jewelry is, I wasn’t surprised to learn that she is also a fine artist—and I fell in love with these mobile sculptures of hers at first glance.

Mobiles often have an understated elegance and grace to their movement, and Sandin’s mobiles speak to that subtlety in the sparseness of the material. She is able to to transform banal objects—a scrap of fabric, a floppy disc, a feather—into something abstractly beautiful and haunting. Captured in stillness, they also take on the form of surrealist paintings, a bit futuristic and totally magical; much like every piece of Samma jewelry. Whatever medium Sandin decides to tackle next, I’m on board.

When I came across this project by Soon, a design firm based in Belgium, the child in me shrieked with delight. I didn’t read a lot of comics when I was younger, but I did love making homes out of paper and tape and inventing my own worlds. As an adult, this kind of magical immersive environment is hard to come by.

It’s great to see what can be made with very simple everyday materials, and I think this 3D comic universe is genius. I really appreciate that they’ve used color so sparingly. The result is that these domestic scenes are humorous and childlike, but also sophisticated; like a pop-art Lichtenstein universe. According to their site, this is for an upcoming project—I’m on the edge of my seat to see where this ends up!

I’m usually immersed in the world of objects and spaces, so it’s really pleasant to step out of that world occasionally and stare at paintings. Some of you may be familiar with that feeling when you come across a s good painting, and you simply want to stare at it all day long? I feel this way about Sabine Fineknauer’s work.

Don’t get wrong: Her sculptural pieces are equally delightful, and it’s clear to see from many of her graphic collages, drawings, and paintings why she would be compelled to translate some of them into three dimensions. Her work offers a particularly romantic blend of visual treats: childlike colors and gestures, floral motifs, simple geometry, and decorative motifs. I’m hooked! Before you head out for the day, definitely take a look at her impressive body of work—I think it will put you in the right mood as we head into the long weekend.

I’ve been following Tomas Saraceno’s work for some time, yet sadly have yet to see it in person. His futuristic environments allow viewers to walk in the sky, wander inside an opalescent inflated dome, and tumble around on a continuously morphing plastic ground. In short, they are magical.

One of his most recent projects, entitled Becoming Aerosolar, is a continuation of his exploration into humanity’s environmental impact on the planet, and imagining more sustainable models for the future. These ethereal, airborne “vehicles” are created from recycled plastic bags, which are heated by the sun to a certain point. They then begin to float upwards. Becoming Aerosolar is currently on view at 21er Haus in Vienna until the end of the summer. If you ever get the chance to view his work in person, do not miss out!